Despite its reputation for a tricky commute and arguably eyesore appearance (don’t confuse familiarity with satisfaction, fellow Londoners), the O2 Arena is a fantastic venue space for the Golden Gods and ample notice that metal is still as healthy as it ever was, showing no signs of bowing to austerity measures.

What would we do without this yearly event? 

Well, for a start we’d probably have healthier livers and better hearing in our later years, however many would also be deprived of their chance to postpone their Download hangovers or simply be given a reason to wash off this year’s festival mud and watch some of the scene’s glitterati forget about their day jobs for an evening.  Metal Hammer Magazine’s annual schmoozefest is upon us, and with it a dazzling array of leather, lip gloss & limp fringes.

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